NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce is launching a program to encourage more workers to gain high school equivalency degrees.

The chamber says more than 300,000 people currently working in Tennessee have not completed their high school education. The trade association is partnering with GEDWorks to provide access to advisers, online study materials, practice tests and connections to local adult education programs.

Chamber President and CEO Bradley Jackson says the program provides employers a "turnkey" option to help their workers finish their high school education. He says employees are more likely to earn their GEDs if they can work toward them during working hours.

Bradley says earning a GED is a key step toward workers obtaining technical degrees and other postsecondary education opportunities.